Child Care Aware of Missouri secures $15,000 to support 51 child care educators with a comprehensive health care plan.

(St. Louis, Mo., July 30, 2025) Child Care Aware of Missouri (CCAMO) recently obtained $15,000 in funding to launch a new initiative that will deliver vital health and mental health services to 51 rural child care educators across five Missouri counties. Through this project, led by CCAMO, participating educators will receive memberships to Show Me Child Care Resources and access to comprehensive telehealth and mental health benefits – all at no personal cost.

The 51 child care educators residing in Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Warren, and Washington counties will have access to unlimited health visits with zero copay along with 10 free mental health therapy sessions per year. According to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, between 12% to 18% of rural professionals remain uninsured in these counties. The American Community Survey also reports poverty rates ranging from 8.6% to 19.7%, highlighting the critical need for support in these communities.

Since 2010, CCAMO has served as the exclusive statewide license holder for Show Me Child Care Resources, a web-based portal providing more than 2,000 resources for child care educators and business owners. The organization also provides consulting, training, and technical assistance to child care business owners to help them understand operational activities, leadership development, expense budgeting, and revenue recognition training to improve business viability.

“Child care professionals don’t often receive benefits, yet their well-being is essential to our communities so they can be present in the child care classroom,” said Robin Phillips, CEO of CCAMO. “Show Me Child Care Resources delivers not only peace of mind to child care staff but also convenient 24/7 access to doctors through our telehealth feature.” Phillips added, “our nonprofit is committed to pursuing ongoing funding annually to continue supporting educators’ health and well-being as they care for Missouri’s children.”

Founded in 1999, CCAMO is a statewide nonprofit that focuses on a comprehensive early childhood education experience through impactful programs and partnerships. The organization’s services include workforce development, child care business supports, advocacy and policy work, and its new Child Care Keeps Missouri Working, a regional campaign offering concierge solutions to businesses undergoing employee recruitment and retention challenges due to the overwhelming shortage of quality child care options. For more information, call (314) 535-1458 or visit www.mochildcareaware.org.

By – Mr. Dilip Modi, Founder & CEO, Spice Money

India is in the midst of a financial revolution, driven by the rapid rise of digital infrastructure, payments adoption, and data-driven credit enablement. The RBI’s Digital Payments Index, which rose 10.7% year-on-year to 493.22 as of March 2025, and the over 65,000 crore digital transactions amounting to ₹12,000 lakh crore recorded over the past six financial years, as recently mentioned in Parliament, are strong indicators of this transformation highlight the depth and scale of this transformation.

What is especially encouraging is that this growth is not confined to metros, it is reaching tier 2, 3, and rural areas, powered by targeted initiatives like the Payments Infrastructure Development Fund and collaborative efforts across government, RBI, NPCI, fintechs, and banks.

In parallel, we are also witnessing a fundamental shift in how credit is assessed and delivered. The launch of the New Digital Credit Assessment Model for MSMEs also signals the transition from traditional underwriting to real-time, data-driven evaluation.

Together, these developments mark a new chapter in India’s financial journey, one that is digital-first, inclusion-led, and innovation-driven. For the fintech industry and financial inclusion players like us, this is an unprecedented opportunity to unlock economic potential at the grassroots and build a truly inclusive digital India.

Bengaluru, India | 28 July 2025: In a city that never slows down, an oasis of calm, connection, and convenience is redefining modern living. Ozone Urbana — a masterpiece integrated township by Ozone Group — rises far from the urban chaos yet remains deeply connected to the heartbeat of Bengaluru. Here, residents enjoy a life of balance, wellbeing, and spirited community.

Spread across expansive, thoughtfully planned acres, Ozone Urbana is more than just a residential enclave. It is a self-sufficient urban ecosystem — seamlessly bringing together homes, businesses, education, senior Living, and leisure within one harmonious township. With a design philosophy built on sustainability, comfort, and connectivity, Ozone Urbana meets the aspirations of today’s discerning urban families in the Bengaluru real estate sector.

Key Features of Ozone Urbana:

A Living Mosaic of All Generations
Ozone Urbana stands out as a truly intergenerational community, where seniors with a lifetime of experience, energetic working adults, and playful kids all co-exist and thrive. Community parks, open spaces, and extraordinary landscaping ensure everyone—from elders enjoying peaceful walks to children laughing in playgrounds—finds their space here.

1. State-of-the-Art Infrastructure & Utilities

• Well-laid, wide, and well-lit roads with clear signage
• Equate power systems with robust backup systems
• Clean, treated water accessible throughout
• Modern sewerage and drainage for hygiene and safety
• Effective waste management and recycling programs
• Excellent connectivity via public transport to key Bengaluru hubs

2. Diverse Residential Options

• Choice of finely crafted apartments, spacious villas, and custom plots
• Smart home features for optimized energy use and convenience
• Options for every budget, blending affordability with luxury

3. Abundant Recreational Amenities

• Swimming pool, gymnasium, sports courts, and event venues
• Vast landscaped gardens, inviting green zones, and tranquil walking trails
• Vibrant community centres encouraging social interaction and festive celebrations

4. Essential Services Within Easy Reach

• One of India’s largest senior care resident committees
• Leading schools for world-class education

5. Sustainable Living Initiatives

• Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge
• Green building standards across the township
• Waste reduction and proactive recycling practices

6. A Truly Connected Community

• Regular events, festivals, and cultural programs to foster bonds
• Common gardens and open seating areas that encourage neighbourly interactions
• A township where every resident is welcomed and feels at home

Ozone Urbana: Where City Life Meets Tranquil Living

Whether you’re a young professional seeking urban convenience, a growing family looking for safe and enriching surroundings, or a retiree yearning for serenity without compromise, Ozone Urbana offers an unmatched lifestyle. It’s not just where you live — it’s how you live that sets Ozone Urbana apart.

Welcome to the future of living in Bengaluru. Welcome to Ozone Urbana.

If you need a shortened version, quotes, or additional info, let me know!

– by Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces

Financial Independence, Retire Early in India

In India’s high-rent, high-inflation environment, owning at least one sufficiently large primary home is the unavoidable first step toward achieving Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE). Without it, monthly rentals erode savings, limit your lifestyle options and flexibility, and make the 25× annual-expense rule, which is the foundation of FIRE, almost impossible to reach.

Owning your home does more than eliminate the burden of rent. It also locks in a predictable housing cost, creates and grows equity in a valuable asset, and gives you the physical space you need for a growing family, take up post-retirement remote or consulting work if you choose to, pursue hobbies and recreation, and host get-togethers.

Let’s explore exactly why homeownership is so central to successful FIRE in India. We will also look at the best cities in which to pursue the FIRE dream and where the numbers work in favour of retirees – early or otherwise.

FIRE’s Core Formula Vs. the Rent Trap

The classic FIRE formula suggests that you must accumulate a retirement corpus equal to 25 times your annual expenses and factor in a 4% annual withdrawal rate. For a family with total annual spending of Rs. 600,000, that target corpus would be about Rs. 1.5 crore. However, if Rs. 25,000 of that monthly budget goes towards rent — and considering that rents rise at least 5% and often more every year — a retiree will perpetually chase an increasing target because rent inflation constantly pushes up the needed corpus.

Contrastingly, owning a home and servicing a fixed-rate home loan essentially provides your family with shelter for 15–20 years, after which housing becomes mostly cost-free, other than maintenance and property tax. This predictability eliminates the major tail risk of expected or unexpected rent hikes and speeds up the path to the 25× goal.

Growing Equity & Forced Savings Via Leverage

Property in growing real estate markets appreciates at a rate more less in tandem with inflation, and additionally along with the city’s own economic expansion. Over the last 10 years, property prices in Indian metros have risen by between 8–13% percent annually. A home bought for Rs. 50 lakh with a 20% down payment (Rs. 10 lakh) at an 80% home loan interest rate empowers the buyer with a Ts. 50 lakh asset.

With an expected property value appreciation of 10% over two years, the net equity gain on the original Rs. 10 lakh is 100%. This outperforms traditional equity returns on a direct investment of Rs. 10 lakh. That’s right – let that sink in.

Also, paying down the principal on the home loan amounts to forced savings of the very best kind. Every EMI allocates a portion to the build-up of equity in the property,  thereby converting living costs into ownership instead of a pure, ROI-less expense like monthly rent.

Space for Family, Work & Life

The FIRE lifestyle usually involves or should factor in:

– A growing family
– Operating a home-based business, or doing some form of remote work
– Pursuing hobbies that need dedicated space – for instance, an art studio, music/AV room, or an art studio
– Hosting guests and community activities

In India, renting usually involves a compact 1–2 BHK apartment of between 500–800 sq ft. Even if this space is all carpet area, it is far from enough for such requirements. On the other hand, a 2–3 BHK apartment admeasuring 1,000–1,500 sq ft bought either outright or with a home loan gives you the space you need for a smooth, enjoyable early-retirement lifestyle.

Cost of Living vs. Property Prices

Buying a mid-range flat of around 1000 sq ft in Pune costs about Rs. 80 lakhs. This is 40% lower than Mumbai, and 20% lower than Bengaluru. With the savings on living expenses once rent (~Rs. 25,000/month) is eliminated, homeowner in Pune saves and builds equity of Rs. 3 lakh every year. This is FIRE on, well, fire.

Why Pune Tops the FIRE-Seekers List

It’s affordable – The average residential price in key markets of Pune is about Rs. 6,000–9,700/sq ft. It is therefore possible to buy a 2–3 BHK apartment in under Rs. 1 crore.
Lower cost of living – In Pune, monthly expenses other than rent come to about Rs. 32,300, which is lower than in other major cities. This boosts savings rate unless one allows lifestyle creep in – and that is something every FIRE-aspirant needs to stay on guard against.
An economic powerhouse – Pune has a thriving IT sector and infrastructure projects like the metro and Ring Road are connecting the city rapidly, resulting in strong end-user housing demand which guarantees steady property appreciation.
Quality of life – Like all Indian cities, Pune has its issues – but it also has a pleasant climate and a vibrant cultural ethos, renowned educational institutions, and superlative hospitals. In short, a fantastic place to settle down in.
Room to grow – Rapidly growing corridors like Hinjewadi, Baner, Kharadi and Punawale in PCMC have many options for big homes of 1,200+ sq ft which area highly suited for growing families and home-based work.

Bengaluru and Hyderabad – FIRE Runners-up

– Bengaluru has steeper living expenses (about Rs. 35,900/month) but this is offset by good income earning potential in IT and the city’s various start-ups. Peripheral areas like Whitefield and Sarjapur have homes available at prices between Rs. 7,000–10,500/sq ft.
– Hyderabad definitely boats of a well-balanced cost of living at around Rs. 31,000–32,000/month and also has relatively affordable property prices at Rs. 5,000–8,000/sq ft in some of the key locations. Emerging tech corridors like Gachibowli and HITEC City offer very good rental yields along with attractive long-term capital appreciation.

Homeownership – The FIRE Cornerstone

In India. homeownership is not just a lifestyle choice – it is a strategic financial imperative, especially for those pursuing the dream of financial independence and retiring early. While rent is a volatile expense category, homeownership is a predictable investment that leverages bank financing for fast equity build-up. Moreover, it provides you with the space you need for a fulfilling early-retirement life.

Among the top Indian cities, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are attractive for professionals earning higher salaries, but Pune stands out as the most FIRE-friendly deal because affordability and growth go hand-in-hand with a great quality of life here.

FIRE-aspirants should make buying a primary home large enough to accommodate family growth, remote work, leisure activities, and social life a top priority. Thereafter, they can pursue the early retirement of their dreams even as the powerful compounding of real-estate equity and freed-up savings set the stage for a smooth ride into a life of leisure backed by financial security.

About the Author:

Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in the region. With the recent inclusion of Puneville Commercial into one of its most iconic townships, Pharande Spaces taken a major step towards addressing Pune’s current and future requirements for fully integrated residential-commercial convenience

In a competitive and rapidly evolving real estate market, developers who prioritize customer satisfaction stand out as true industry leaders. From transparency in processes to timely delivery, post-sales service, and community-building, these developers are reshaping what homebuyers expect — and deserve. Here are five real estate developers setting new benchmarks in customer satisfaction across India.

1. Srijan Realty

Srijan Realty has built a strong reputation for quality and transparency, with over 12 million sq. ft. delivered and 27 million sq. ft. under development. Their projects reflect design intelligence and human insight, with a consistent focus on timely handovers and buyer support. From the first site visit to post-possession care, Srijan ensures that customer experience remains at the heart of its operations — building not just homes, but lasting relationships.

2. Godrej Properties

With a strong legacy and future-focused approach, Godrej Properties consistently earns praise for its clear communication, on-time delivery, and after-sales support. Their customer-centric initiatives, including digital updates, service portals, and dedicated support teams, make the home-buying journey smooth and transparent.

3. Lodha Group

Lodha is known for delivering high-quality residential experiences with a sharp focus on customer delight. From construction updates to move-in assistance and loyalty programs, Lodha ensures its customers feel supported at every step. Their approach blends operational efficiency with thoughtful engagement — creating an elevated ownership experience.

4. M3M India

M3M has emerged as a trusted name through a combination of timely delivery, design excellence, and responsive customer care. The developer actively invests in post-sale services, feedback mechanisms, and resident-focused initiatives that keep buyers informed and satisfied throughout the ownership journey.

5. Prestige Group

Prestige Group stands out for its consistent quality and strong customer relationships. Buyers value the professionalism shown in everything from project updates to possession processes. The brand’s dedicated customer care teams and long-term service model contribute to high levels of customer retention and referrals.

Jaipur|26, July, 2025– In a world increasingly attuned to mindful design and quiet luxury, Lumeil — India’s premier e-commerce destination for curated decorative lighting — introduces its most evocative collection yet: The Serenity Collection.

A sensorial symphony of sculptural silhouettes, artisanal craftsmanship, and organic finishes, the Serenity Collection pays homage to the beauty of restraint. Drawing from a palette grounded in nature — clay, sandstone, terracotta, and soft dusk grey — each lighting piece is a poetic embodiment of stillness, form, and emotional refinement.

“We envisioned Serenity as more than a lighting collection,” shares Naman Jain, Founding Member of Lumeil. “It is a meditative experience. Each piece is designed not just to illuminate, but to soften — to slow the pace of life and offer a more conscious way of inhabiting space.”

From hand-blown glass pendants that hover like warm celestial forms, to clay-finished wall sconces that breathe light across walls like a sunset across stone — every detail in the Serenity Collection is deliberate, tactile, and timeless. It invites a sensorial pause; a reconnection with spatial poetry.

Rooted in minimalist ideology and elevated by contemporary craftsmanship, the Serenity Collection is aligned with the new global aesthetic of understated elegance — where luxury is felt, not flaunted. In an era defined by conscious consumption, Serenity speaks to those who seek meaning behind every object they bring into their home.

Every product in the collection transcends mere functionality. These are sculptural objects of desire — designed to complement architectural spaces with graceful quietude, yet commanding presence. A subtle echo of global design maisons, Serenity is where Wabi-sabi meets modernism, and the elemental meets the editorial.

This release further cements Lumeil’s position at the intersection of high design and seamless digital luxury. With an intuitive online platform tailored for both design professionals and design-forward homeowners, Lumeil offers a rare blend of exclusivity and accessibility — from digital discovery to white-glove doorstep delivery.

For those who collect experiences, not just objects — and for whom every corner of a home must whisper intent — the Serenity Collection is now available exclusively on Lumeil.com.

Mumbai, 26 July, 2025: RPG Life Sciences Limited has announced its financial results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2025.

Q1 FY26 Highlights	Y-o-Y Revenue from operations	Y-o-Y PBT
	Rs. 168.9 crores vs. Rs. 165.4 crores	Rs. 35.4 crores vs.  Rs. 36.0 crores

In Q1 FY26, RPG Lifesciences revenue recorded 2.1% Y-o-Y increase in sales (18.1% Q-o-Q growth) along with a healthy EBITDA margin of 24.1%. Profit before tax remained largely in line with previous year.

Commenting on the results as well as the outlook of the business, Mr. Ashok Nair, Managing Director, RPG Life Sciences Ltd. said, “In Q1, we have sustained our sales growth momentum, reflecting the strength of our strategic execution and operational excellence. Our Domestic Formulations business continues to deliver market-beating growth, propelled by a focused transformation agenda and a customer-centric approach. We remain firmly on track to accelerate both our International Formulations and API segments, with growth driven by rapid onboarding of new customers, strategic expansion into newer markets, and launch of newer molecules that broaden our therapeutic reach.”

“We are actively exploring inorganic growth opportunities across both formulations and APIs to further accelerate our growth trajectory and create lasting value for all stakeholders,” added Nair.

July 25, 2025: India’s real estate sector is on the cusp of a structural transformation, and surprisingly, it’s the most troubled assets that are turning heads. Stressed and stalled real estate projects—long viewed as symbols of sectoral inefficiency—are now emerging as a compelling asset class for opportunistic investors. With regulatory clarity, institutional funding, and urban housing demand aligning, these projects are being reimagined as turnaround stories, not dead-ends.

The aftermath of the NBFC crisis, pandemic-related delays, and regulatory realignments left over 5 lakh housing units stalled across India’s top cities, according to industry data. But that same inventory, once seen as a drag on balance sheets, is now becoming a hotbed for strategic investments.

“We’re witnessing a fundamental shift in investor mindset. Stressed projects today represent not just discounted acquisitions, but opportunities to re-engineer supply in markets that remain under-housed and over-priced,” says Mr. Vikas Jain, CEO, Labdhi Lifestyle. “As a developer, we’re seeing more funds actively seeking joint development models and asset buyouts in underperforming projects. It’s a win-win when execution capability meets financial muscle.”

Labdhi Lifestyle has emerged as a key player in reviving stressed real estate assets, with its recent acquisition of a stalled Rajesh LifeSpaces project in BKC which counted Mirae Asset and JM Financial as lenders. The project—now named BKC EDGE—has a revenue potential of ₹900 crore. This marks Labdhi’s second such turnaround in Mumbai, highlighting its collaborative financing model and focus on last-mile delivery.

“This model proves that with the right capital strategy and execution framework, distressed projects can be transformed into high-performance assets,” adds Jain.

Several macro and micro factors are converging:

Deep Discounting: Many stressed projects are available at 30–60% below prevailing market value, providing strong potential for capital appreciation post-resolution.

Completion-Based Demand: With consumers preferring ready or nearly-ready homes, capital deployment in near-finish projects ensures quicker monetization and lower risk.

SWAMIH & Policy Push: The government-backed SWAMIH fund has committed ₹15,000 crore towards stalled affordable and mid-income projects, offering investor confidence in public-private resolution mechanisms.
Specialized Capital Pools: Private equity firms, family offices, and ARC-backed funds are launching distress-focused verticals to evaluate and absorb these opportunities.

“We strongly believe that stressed real estate projects could become the sunrise segment of India’s investment landscape. With the right structural enablers, these projects have the ability to bridge the housing deficit while unlocking idle capital,” says Mr. Prashant Sharma, President, NAREDCO Maharashtra. “We’re encouraging developers to partner with credible financial institutions, while also engaging with authorities to fast-track approvals for such turnarounds.”

The MMR—India’s most land-starved and price-sensitive region—has emerged as a ground zero for distressed project turnarounds. Over 70,000 housing units across 493 projects have been stalled due to new environmental clearance requirements for projects within eco‑sensitive zones in MMR. With these stalled units, it offers a unique canvas for capital infusion and design-led redevelopment.

“We’re working closely with both investors and developers to repackage distressed projects into commercially viable propositions,” says Mr. Nihar Jayesh Thakkar, Founder, The Mandate House Pvt. Ltd., a firm specializing in investment strategy and real estate repositioning. “The opportunity lies in bridging trust—between capital and capability, between plan and execution.”

Thakkar adds that for distressed assets to succeed, the three critical factors are: (1) Legal and title clarity, (2) Market-fit redesign, and (3) A high-credibility delivery team. “Without execution reliability, no investment structure will sustain long-term,” he cautions.

Despite the promise, risks persist:

Litigation: Many stressed projects are stuck in complex legal disputes among lenders, buyers, or landowners.
Approval Bottlenecks: Changes in plan or structure often require fresh permissions—adding to timelines.
Reputational Hurdles: Buyer skepticism about legacy projects can impact fresh sales unless backed by known names.

But these roadblocks are not insurmountable. In fact, several investors are forming SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) with established developers, enabling cleaner entries and faster resolution.

In a market chasing stable returns and defensible assets, stressed projects are finding unexpected favour. Where some see risk, others now see a reset. With the right alignment between policy, capital, and delivery expertise, the sector may well witness its most profitable stories emerge from its most problematic pages.

“In real estate, timing is everything. And for stressed assets, the time is now,” concludes Mr. Jain.